Ryan Gosling lead favourite to play Supreme Dr. Strange

The battle is on to become Dr. Strange. Scores of Hollywood’s finest have bolstered into the race to become the new, dark and Earthly protector of the MARVEL machine. Lead candidates have been a swirl of interest including Keanu Reeves, Jared Leto, Jake Gyllenhaal, Ethan Hawke, Oscar Isaac, Ewan McGregor, Matthew McConaughey, Justin Theroux and frontrunner Ryan Gosling. Tom Hardy and Benedict Cumberbatch were also being mildly considered. McConaughey, Gosling, Hawke, Leto, Gyllenhaal, Isaac and McGregor comprise the final shortlist. The proposed casting for Joaquin Phoenix fell through, leading to an influx of suggestions to seize the hands on role. Gorgeous Gosling is hotly tipped to work his magic, but is he right for the role? Even more shocking what people didn’t know, is that months prior to Phoenix, veteran actor Matthew Modine was the leading choice. Gosling has fought off Johnny Deep in a coming Harry Houdini biopic and is leading a chance to star in DC Comics own Suicide Squad. Is this an attempt to steal the ever great Gosling to the rival brand? Whether it is or not, it would cement Gosling in place with the MARVEL hero house and keep him away from prying eyes, whilst raising and remaining a part of The Avengers squad, here and there.

DC Comics are having a hard time of it lately, losing out to rival MARVEL and failing to provide interest. While it’s DC against MARVEL its also media involvement too. FOX and Rupert Murdoch’s News International are taking on MARVEL and Disney. Two of the biggest five companies in the world of media may just be slugging it out for superhero supremacy. Since launching the catastrophic Batman vs. Superman forthcoming Man of Steel sequel with a bundle of errors before production began and even well into it, DC may be doomed. It needs powerful people at the helm who know what to do as Zack Synder was given the go ahead based on his resume rather than his talent. Already he has bungled the show. Even casting and pushing Wonder Woman onto screens in a rushed moment has systematically broken the Justice League before it has began.

Gosling for role?

Previously Gosling had turned down the role of Hal Jordan, The Green Lantern. Ryan Reynolds took that role. As hot and cool as Reynolds is, look how that turned out.

There is no greater joy than to become a hero on screen, but the consequences are vast. They can ruin your career if not thought through, clever casting and a meaty script offer.

Strange is said to be the most powerful humanoid in the Universe. With a description like that, it’s no doubt they want Gosling. For this alone, we would agree, R-Gos should get the role. Offer him a wealthy packet too, he deserves it. This also leads to another importance. Is Ryan Gosling now the most bankable and sought after star in Hollywood, often under-looked from the really big roles? Listen up MARVEL, get me on the set. Editor, casting, director, you name it. You won’t be disappointed. Gosling is fit for the role and can make it his own. Whilst some may disagree on first instance, we see what MARVEL sees. Give Gosling a chance, he is the best option on the table. He’ll be able to craft the role with careful change but embodiment of the hero persona. This is a rare talent that only a few in Hollywood can handle. At 33 years old, also in his prime, Gosling is one of them.

Scott Derrickson of The Exorcism of Emily Rose fame is likely to be directing.

Okay, so it’s a tad late, but a marvel of pics are in. In May 2014 the UK hosted a Comic Con event in London from MCM. The event earned over an extraordinary 100,000 visitors at the Excel centre.

The UK, which are highly behind on Comic Con’s and assume all geek lovers fantasies are not worthy or important are likely to think again. Though they may now try to commercialise it reading this, fans have been clear. Leave them alone and keep your noses out.

The event hosted between Friday 23 to Sunday 25 May 2014 surpassed the precious years 88,000 mark with 101,600. So if you’re going as a meet up group coordinating outfits, a lone ranger or simply throwing on a frock, get down to the Excel if this is your sort of thing. Everyone of all sizes, countries and hero lovers are welcomed.

Whether its comic heroes and villains, video game stars or classic fairytale fol, there is a place for any and very star.

MCM’s new Excel event is on 24-26 October 2014. If anyone can sew us a suit, we might pop down. 🙂 (Anything Final Fantasy would work.)

This is the new Wonder Woman!

Israeli star Gal Gadot will slip into the female Wonder’s hotpants under the direction of Zack Snyder, presumably. She will be joining the coming Batman vs. Superman sequel to Man of Steel, meaning Wonder Woman is due to launch.

While Gadot is a stunning and sexy lady, Zack has proved to be completely mindless in making a superhero franchise thrive. After his misdirection casting Ben Affleck ( a talented actor unfit for the role) into the Caped Crusader’s costume, Warner Brother’s is proving to be little competition to its rival, Disney, owning the Marvel group. The aim is to produce the long awaited Justice League film. Many view this as a cheap and lame way in conducting the film only based on Marvel’s boost of the Avenger’s unit.

Many believe Snyder is literally rushing the franchise along without Batman or Wonder Woman in their re-castings gaining new films beforehand.

Our view?

Warner need to sack Snyder imminently. Bringing the franchise down and crippling its mentality before it begins is horrific. When the movie plays out, Snyder’s rush to cast ‘popular favourites’ (especially after FalseFabs debated Wonder Woman’s inevitable on-screen return) will ruin the film, the actors and the characters. It is something that the movie house will never live down. On top of this, it will clearly hand the victory to Marvel.

Set for 2015, Snyder’s Superman sequel with Henry Cavill and Ben Affleck is now rumoured to have been pushed back from its release date to 2016. Warner Bros. confirmed the film was put back till May 2016, which is another slap in the face to the fans. Prepare for more outrage on YouTube, no doubt.

While this is an amazing opportunity for Gadot, whom we have no hatred towards personally, the hiring of a random pin up will ruin the reputation of Wonder Woman herself. It could also make the franchise look very disillusioned from what a superhero actually is and what makes them connected to the audience.

Aiming to find someone ‘new’ and unknown to create some buzz and boost Snyder’s ego is ridiculous. The man has now proved immensely inferior and no picture house should work with the tool ever again. Your reputation is on the line and is something that when taking a huge hit, can ruin everything strived for.

Taking this long to deal with and filled with hot air, the film is already a massive mess and hasn’t even had any real detail on the release. If you need a new director, email us.

Good news for Marvel fans. A new hero mash up is on its way. Fans will see the return of a new Marvel Avengers film set for release in May 2015. Many fans had been guessing who or what would be the subject of the new film, only announced by the Marvel hero house.

We can reveal the movie will be based on the character Ultron, in the new flick Avengers: Age of Ultron. The film plans to paint a portrait of the story detailing how the character alters from hero to villainy ways. The role will be taken by James Spader.

Image Credit: Estefan Garza

The star studded line-up is expected to host other heroes including Mark Ruffalo as the Hulk, Scarlett Johansson (Black Widow) and Chris Evans as Captain America (following recently released The Winter Soldier in cinemas now.)

Also popping up will be Jeremy Renner, who previously signed up as Hawkeye but failed to be given any idea when his call up to screen would come.

Others include Chris Hemsworth as Thor, Robert Downey Jr. returning as Iron Man and Samuel L. Jackson as Nick Fury.

Aaron Taylor Johnson, who most know as Kick-Ass will transform into a new role as Quicksilver. Elizabeth Olsen will also take a role as Scarlett Witch.

Fans still speculate the villain could be Thanos, who is expected to be saved for the next or future installment, possibly in 2018.

Given the demand and success superheroes bring to the modern age, are the franchises now over diluting the series and its characters? With a star studded line up, Marvel have placed a good idea behind the movie, but it could be off-putting with too much input. Ultimately we shall see how it pans out but three or four major heroes with supporting heroes could be a big spanner in the works. It feels as though Marvel aim to add too much in one flick.

There is however a silver lining here. The director is Buffy maestro and TV hero himself, Joss Whedon. These may just be the safe hands the film and its heroes need. Whedon added Spader was “his first and only choice.”

In the UK, however, the Marvel Agents of S.H.I.E.L.D television series, most believed would triumph, became a huge flop failing to interest. If Marvel can get its multi-hero movies put down well, with huge ammunition behind the production, it could continue to interest with spin off franchises. One thing we would suggest is to consider downsizing too much content which could ruin the story. This practice has often than not, caused problems for hero films in the past. It also seems as though any actor would love to grab a part as a hero and choosing postmodern popular culture could crack the Avengers’ outlook overall.

Character heads “3 months to live title”

The writers at Marvel comics have decided to finally kill off one of the most popular characters of the X-Men mutant franchise.

The character, hugely popularised by Australian hunk Hugh Jackman became a stand out figure from branching out of the X-Men series. Issue 8’s “3 months to die” leaves a little tidbit for Logan’s parting screen life.

“Friend. Teacher. X-Man. Avenger. Assassin. Hero. The man called Logan has worn many faces and lived many lives. Tortured by the horrors of his past, Logan has spent the better part of his life on a path to redemption.

But all paths eventually end. And there will be no happy ending for the Wolverine. Left without his healing factor, the invulnerable killing machine has found himself mortal for the first time in his long life. And as past sins come back to haunt him – he’ll have to pay the ultimate price.”

Our take?

Everything must end at some point in a narrative context. Going out on a high after several powerful movies with and without the X-Men, Wolverine has been a huge success. But this success is now reaching the end of its course and instead of milking it where it becomes resentment, its time to pack up and move on with dignity. Fans will ultimately respect the choice over time despite initial shock. Ultimately this would include a screen adaptation with a final end.